INFANTRY DAY
‘Old Digs’ Fire Latest Rifle
“Old Digs” had a field day at Burnham Military Camp yesterday. Invited to attend the first Infantry Day celebrations, they were told of the changes in weaponry since the war and tried out new rifles. About 750 former infantrymen, their wives and children and other interested members of the public attended the celebrations. They made informal tours of the establishment, saw the new barracks blocks, examined displays of equipment, and had afternoon tea.
The highlight of the afternoon was the ceremonial Beating of Retreat by the combined New Zealand Army Band and the Band of 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. Former infantrymen were allowed to fire two shots each, under supervision, from the new SLR rifle which has replaced the familiar 303. They also saw the new webbing equipment, 24-hour ration packs, new signal sets, antitank weapons, the M 37 field cooker, modern mortars, and the new GP machine-gun. Infantry Day is the idea of Major General Sir William Gentry, honorary colonel of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19651018.2.127
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30884, 18 October 1965, Page 14
Word Count
178INFANTRY DAY Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30884, 18 October 1965, Page 14
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